Improvement in pmeuiviatig signal apparatus



W. FOSTER, lr.

Pneumatic Signal Apparatus. y NO 142,224. PatentedAugust26,873.

, WILLIAM rosrnn, Jn., or New vonk, n. Y.

MPROVEMENT EN PNEUMATIC SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2,22, dated August 26,1873; application filed April 28, 1873.

To all 'whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM FOSTER, Jr., of the city of New York, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pneumatic Signal and Telegraph Apparatus; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings formingpart of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevationof a pneumatic signal and telegraph apparatus, showing the applicationof my improvements; and Fig. 2 is a detached plan view of the same.

Similar letters of reference denote correspondingparts in the severalfigures of the drawings.

The pneumatic signal and telegraph appa! ratus may be stated, in generalterms, to consist in a system of clockwork, or other proper gearing,arranged within a suitable frame or case, abell or other signalingdevice connected with the gearing, and a valve operated by atmosphericair to trip or unlock the gearing for sounding the bell. My inventionhas for its object to improve. the operation and eficiency of suchapparatus, whereby it is adapted for communicating signals from longdistances with certainty andaccuracy. To this end it consists in thecombination of the tripping orr unlocking mechanism, signal-gearing, andan adjusting-nut, spring-lever, and disk for regulating the pressure ofthe air-chamber, as is hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, A is a case, made of any suitable form andsize, to contain the gearing B and bell G, the latter being arranged toreceive the blows of ahammer, D. The arm of this hammer is made angularin shape, and pivoted at or near its angle to the frame of the gearing,so that its shorter arm, e, shall' extend downward beside the gearwheelF,.and within the path of the stops g attached to said wheel. H is thevalve, composed of two circular pieces of leather or other flexiblenon-elastic material, secured together at their edges so as to form anairspace, I. The valveis arranged within a chamber, J, in the upper partof the case A, and may be secured in place in any convenient manner. Inthis example of my invention I have shown it resting upon the bottom ofthe chamber J 5 but it may be suspended therein, or secured to any otherpart, as preferred. It may also be made of one piece, although,y foreconomy of construction, I prefer to employ two pieces, as abovedescribed. In order to render the valve air-tight, I coat, saturate, orotherwise treat it with glycerine; this substance being employed becauseit is non-evaporating, and will not, therefore, permit the valve to leakafter long-continued use. K is the air-tube,arranged in the top of theoase A so as to communicate with the interior of the valve; It iscomposed of metal or some lexible material, and extends to a pointremote from the apparatus, and constitutes `a line of communication fromone point to another. L is a fiat spring, hinged at one end within thechamber J, so as to extend diametrically across the top of the valve andconnect at the opposite end with a screw-rod, m., which rod passesthrough it to receive a setnut, n, as shown. A button or disk, O, issecured to the under side of the spring, bearing directly upon thevalve, for the purpose of forming sufficient bearing-surface to lift thespring when the valve is iniiated. The red extends downward through thebottom of the chamber J, and connects with one arm of an angular lever,P, pivoted to the frame of the gearing. The opposite arm of this leveris bent outward at the end to rest against a pin, q, projectinglaterally from the face of the gear-wheel It. The lever P is alsoconnected with an arm, S, extending to the gear-wheel F, where its bentend enters one or the other of the notches formed in a disk, T, securedto said wheel or to its axle.

Vhen the various parts are in the positions shown in the drawings, andliereinbefore described, the apparatus is out of operation. If, however,air is suddenly forced into the tube K, or moved therein by any suitablemeans, the valve will become inflated, lift the spring L, and, throughthe medium of the connecting-rod m, throw the lever P and rod Sont of'contact with the stop q and notched disk T, thereby allowing the gearingto operate. As this proceeds, the pins g upon the gearwheel F trip thearm e of the hammer to sound the bell. A sudden puff or movement i' thenir through the pneumatic tube is suflieient to operate the trippingmechanism and unloek the gearing, when the valve instantly resumesitsformer position, and drops the tripping mechanism into the properpositions to arrest the movement of the gearing lby contact with thenext set of stops on the Wheels F R. Any desired number of stops may bearranged on these wheels; 4iout I prefer to einpioy two or three onlyfor eacinso that the gearing may continue its movements after thetripping mechanism has been lifted and reset, thereby insuring certaintyof action.

The force of air required to lift the veive is determined by theadjustment of the set-nut ai, which may be effected through an openingin the top of the case, es shown. The valve may, therefore, he medesensitive to the slightest movement of the air, end. this capabilitymense adapts the apparatus for signaling from long distances.

Instead of making the piece L elastic, it maybe made rigid, and Weightedto beer upon the valve.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- The combination ofthe tripping or unlocking mechanism, constructed as described,signai-gearing, and adj usting-nut u, spring-lever L, pneumatic valve H,and disk 0, substaniiaicilly as set forth, and for the purpose speci-The above specification of my invention signed by ine this 18th' dey ofApril, A. D. 1873.

Witnesses: WM. FOSTER, JR.

E. A. ELLsWoRTH, FRANK MALorsAY.

